09/30/2024
Diaphragmatic Breathing: The Core of Healing and Wellness
SIDE VIEW
15 degrees the torso pulling back…
When you relax your shoulders, lift your rib cage, take a deep inhale, and pull your torso back by 15 degrees, the vagus nerve—which runs from your brainstem down through the spine and into the abdomen—undergoes gentle stimulation due to the following:
Deep Inhalation: As you inhale deeply, your diaphragm moves downward, creating more space for your lungs to expand. This activates the vagus nerve, which helps trigger the parasympathetic response, promoting relaxation and calming the body.
Rib Cage Expansion: Lifting your rib cage opens up the chest cavity, allowing for full lung expansion. This movement increases the stretch and stimulation of the vagus nerve, encouraging it to send signals to lower your heart rate, reduce stress, and enhance relaxation.
Pulling the Torso Back: As you pull your torso back 15 degrees, the extension of the spine adds a mild stretch to the vagus nerve along its pathway through the torso. This gentle stretch further enhances its activation, deepening the parasympathetic response, which helps to calm the nervous system.
The overall effect is a greater sense of relaxation, lower heart rate, and reduced stress as the vagus nerve works to bring the body into a more relaxed and balanced state.
After torso bending 15 degrees …
When you inhale deeply during diaphragmatic breathing and hold your breath, the diaphragm moves downward, causing your abdomen to expand. As you step your right foot forward and bend your torso 15 degrees, the abdominal muscles are engaged to maintain stability and balance.
At this point:
The expanded abdomen creates internal pressure, supporting the spine and core muscles as you lean forward.
The diaphragm remains in a contracted position, holding the breath, which keeps the lungs full and the abdomen firm.
The slight bend shifts your center of gravity, causing the core muscles to engage more to support both your posture and the held breath. This increases the sense of tension in the abdomen while keeping you stable and balanced.